Barnes Supermarket on North Ninth Avenue in Pensacola closes

Barnes Supermarket at 1301 N. Ninth Ave. in Pensacola has ceased operations. Several customers on Friday, Aug. 11, 2017, stopped by the store but saw the sign on the door directing customers to instead go to the other Barnes Supermarket at 1612 N. Pace Blvd.(Photo: Joseph Baucum/jbaucum@pnj.com)

"The stores are only about four miles apart," Lewis said. "We've already seen a lot of our customers (at the Pace Boulevard location) and we've got several of the employees that are transferring over as well."

With the company consolidating to one location, Lewis added that it intends to complete upgrades to the Pace Boulevard store, including new frozen food selections and improved shelving. He explained the closure of the North Ninth Avenue store was a consequence of lower revenue at the location.

Lewis said the downturn in business was partly a result of Publix opening a store nearby on Feb. 4 at 1100 E. Cervantes St. Additionally, other businesses, such as the Family Dollar store next door to Barnes Supermarket on Ninth Avenue, offer groceries, which further cut into the company's revenue.

"We couldn't go anymore," he said. "The business and economy in that area was down. We just couldn't keep the store open anymore."

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